How to Tie Dye T-Shirts With Kids

Looking for fun summer activities and crafts with kids? One of my favorite activities when I was a kid was tie dying t-shirts. It’s not as messy or complicated as I remember, and my children feel a sense of creativity and accomplishment. Grab some old t-shirts, go outside, and have a blast. Here’s how to tie dye t-shirts with kids.

How to Tie Dye T-Shirts with Kids

Here’s what you’ll need to get started to tie dye t-shirts (or anything) with your kids!

Supplies:

T-shirts (I like white, but you can use other colors for a different look)
Dye (Pick up a kit or just the dye at your local retailer)
Rubber Bands
Something to cover your work area (Because, kids!)
Gloves
Plastic Zip Bags

I chose to work outside, because a spillage of dye outside makes for a less crabby mom than a spillage of dye inside the house. I covered the ground with a plastic tablecloth, and I showed the kids some options of patterns they could make that came with the instructions. Here’s what they chose.

Tie Dye Spiral/Swirl Pattern

Probably the most common tie-dye look, a pattern that makes a swirl.

Lay the fabric flat.
Pinch the fabric in the center.
Begin twisting the fabric in a circular motion and continue until all of the fabric is in a spiral shape. As you get to the end, the fabric won’t naturally just lay in the spiral. That’s okay.
Secure the spiral with rubber bands into wedges.
Apply the dye to the fabric.

I let my daughter choose whatever colors she wanted to put next to each other. I had my opinions, and I was proud of myself for not voicing them. I wanted her to be proud of her own creation.

Tie Dye Bullseye Pattern

Lay the shirt flat.
Pinch a piece of fabric in the center and tie it with a rubber band.
Tie another rubber band a little further down and make a line shape.
Apply the dye to the fabric.

Tie Dye Shirt Crumple Pattern

Lay the shirt flat.
Scrunch fabric together.
Apply dye.

Probably the easiest method, because you literally just bunch up the fabric. Even I can’t mess that up! Perfect for little kids who want to get in on the fun. No rubber bands needed.

Wrap, Let Sit, Rinse

After you are finished applying the dye (if there are white spots left on the shirt, then that’s where you’ll have white as part of your pattern), I drop the shirts in a bag, seal it, and leave it to dry overnight. Six hours is probably enough, but I just leave mine overnight, so I can wash in the morning.

Next, rinse off the dye until the water runs clear.

Now time to wash and dry your shirts!

Oh yeah, now it’s time to wear the works of art proudly.

Seriously though, these kids were so proud of their creations. I looked away when some dye got on their legs and arms. I didn’t offer unsolicited advice. Most importantly, I was beaming with pride at their creativity.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on how to tie dye t-shirts with kids. Add it to your summer fun list and have fun creating!